By Basant El-Faramawy
Michael Douglas has provided a rare update on Jack Nicholson, revealing that the 89-year-old Hollywood legend is in good health but has largely withdrawn from public life. Speaking at an event in Swansea while promoting his new memoir, Douglas said Nicholson is "well" but "has disappeared," adding that he still sees him occasionally at his home where Nicholson spends time "walking around in his slippers."
Douglas on Nicholson's Retirement
Douglas, 82, produced the 1975 classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which won Nicholson his first Best Actor Oscar. Though the two never acted together on screen, Douglas expressed a wish to have shared scenes with Nicholson. He acknowledged Nicholson's unofficial retirement, saying, "He deserves it. I understand. He is a few years older than me, but I understand."
Nicholson's Recent Appearances
Nicholson has not officially announced his retirement but has not acted since 2010's How Do You Know and has rarely been photographed in recent years. In April, his daughter Lorraine shared a rare photo on Instagram showing Nicholson smiling among family and friends, including singer Joni Mitchell. The post drew warm responses from fans appreciating the glimpse of the reclusive star.
Friends and Colleagues Stay in Touch
Longtime friend and music producer Lou Adler told a podcast that Nicholson now prefers "sitting under a tree and reading a book." Actor Carol Kane, who co-starred with Nicholson in Carnal Knowledge and The Last Detail, said they remain in occasional contact. "Not a lot, but we keep at it," she said. "I make sure to check in on him, and thank goodness he's still answering my calls."
Career Highlights
A three-time Oscar winner, Nicholson is among Hollywood's most celebrated actors, with iconic roles in Five Easy Pieces, Chinatown, Batman, A Few Good Men, and As Good as It Gets. Douglas earned his Oscar for producing Cuckoo's Nest after acquiring the rights from his father, Kirk Douglas. In his memoir One Helluva Ride, Douglas also writes about his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones and past relationships with co-stars Kathleen Turner and Jeanne Tripplehorn.
